J.R. Inman is photographed at his book signing for his book, 'When the Air Comes Out of the Ball' at Nyack Public Library on March 16, 2013. ( Carucha L. Meuse / The Journal News )

Written by

Jermaine Dennis

It started the summer of 2008. Gerald "J.R." Inman, raised in Pomona, was entering his senior year at Rutgers University and preparing for his final season as a Scarlet Knight basketball player.

On Rutgers' campus, behind door 206 in Rockoff Hall, Inman contemplated his possibly dwindling dream of a future in the NBA. His frustrations with his years spent in Piscataway, N.J., started to mount.

"Playing in the Big East for Rutgers in the media capital, there were no secrets about the troubles we had in the previous couple of years in terms of wins and losses," Inman said. "I was going through some ...